Spring is here, and with the new season comes well-intentioned plans to get our homes organised. Typically, Google searches for ‘spring cleaning’ spike in March (in the last 12 months, searches peaked during the weeks that spanned 2nd-29th March 2025), but - while most homeowners target their focus on the inside of their property - many forget about the importance of exterior property maintenance as we come out of winter.
With this in mind, we’ve decided it's a good time to stop neglecting our outside spaces! So, to gather expert insights on the topic, we dug into our own sales data and collaborated with 3 property experts in order to decipher the biggest exterior trends for 2026 and give tips and tricks on how to improve kerb appeal.
Property exterior trends
Driveways
Resin bound surfaces can be used for both foot and vehicle traffic, as resin bound is a fully mixed system (where the aggregate and resin are combined before laying, creating a smooth, strong, permeable finish with no loose stones). They are a great choice for domestic driveways.
Analysis of search volume data shows a 23% month-on-month increase in search volume for the phrase ‘resin driveway’ last month (February 2026, compared to January 2026), and demand is anticipated to continue climbing as we progress further into Spring.
Looking at our recent resin bound sales data (February 2025 to January 2026), we can see that grey was the most popular colour, followed by beige and brown. Plus, insights from our visualiser tool between January 2025 and February 2026 show that red is the fastest growing colour family, and that demand for black is also increasing:
- Red = +316% vs prior period
- Beige = +300% vs prior period
- Brown = +210% vs prior period
- Black = +205% vs prior period
- Grey = +24% vs prior period
Discover the full resin bound colour range, and order samples.
Windows and doors
When it comes to windows and doors, Steve Bromberg, managing director at Express Bi Folding Doors shared six key trends for 2026, including:
- Fine-textured finishes
- Smart and biometric features
- Statement pivot door
- Bronze, deep green, and beige window frames
- Bigger glass, slimmer frames
- Energy efficiency and sustainable design
On fine-textured finishes, Steve says: “the colour palette isn’t shifting dramatically, but the finish certainly is. Fine-textured coatings are becoming the go-to. They soften gloss levels to create a more architectural look while also being incredibly practical and more resistant to scratches, fingerprints, and general wear. It’s a finish that delivers both luxury and longevity, which is exactly what homeowners want right now.”
Talking about smart and biometric features, he added: “Biometric features like smart locks, fingerprint access, and even facial recognition are growing in popularity, particularly on statement entrances. LED lighting within the door panel or surrounding frame. A feature that’s becoming just as important for skylights and roof lanterns. Homeowners want light that feels ambient and intelligent, working in harmony with the space rather than simply illuminating it.”
Statement pivot doors are also going to have a moment this year… “Pivot doors are an architectural feature in their own right,” Steve explains. “They’re bold, beautifully engineered and often include biometric locking due to their size. We’re seeing lighting built into both the internal and external sides, so the entrance feels as impressive at night as it does during the day. These large-scale doors add instant kerb appeal while creating a seamless flow between the exterior and interior, perfect for homes that balance minimalism with character.”
On key colourways, Steve says: “Bronze, deep green, and even soft beige finishes are becoming more popular, especially for rural and coastal properties. We’re also seeing a rise in dual-colour frames where the interior and exterior finishes differ, allowing homeowners to complement both their interior décor and their exterior aesthetic.”
Steve also expects to see homeowners opting for bigger glass with slimmer frames - “The desire for more glass and less frame isn’t slowing down,” Steve notes. “With glass becoming heavier due to stricter building regulations, we’re anticipating a rise in automated sliding systems that make operating these large panels effortless. Essentially, people want the back of their homes to become moving glass walls; elegant, functional, and filled with light” adds Steve.
Performance is also key - and homeowners are interrogating energy efficiency and sustainable design - “People are looking beyond appearance. They want windows and doors that perform exceptionally well, reduce energy bills, minimise heat loss, and use eco-friendly materials. Recycled aluminium systems, thermally efficient glass, and high-performance seals are all becoming standard as homeowners future-proof their properties.”
Exterior walls, roofs, and lighting
To add insights on exterior walls, roofs, and lighting trends, we spoke to Ricky Delaney, founder of Corsol Conversions. Ricky shared that “the most common trend we're seeing on lofts at the moment is thin-coat silicone-based render. After that, it would be cement board cladding. For roofs, we mostly see the basic double Roman style, and the colour of choice currently is deep red and charcoal. Exterior lighting tends to be a mix between cold and warm, with a 50/50 split at the moment".
Kerb appeal
Our property’s exterior also impacts ‘kerb appeal’ - a key element for how our homes are visually perceived. With this in mind, we collaborated with Robin Edwards, a property buying agent at Curetons, to discuss the impact of kerb appeal on the process of selling a home.
Robin shared that “as a property buying agent, I can usually tell within seconds of pulling up outside a house how the viewing is going to start. Kerb appeal isn’t just cosmetic; it sets the whole emotional tone of a viewing. Buyers will often make snap judgments about your home before they’ve even stepped inside. If the exterior feels cared for, orderly and welcoming, they walk through the front door positively predisposed. If it looks tired, neglected or chaotic, they immediately start looking for problems.”
“Good kerb appeal absolutely affects whether someone chooses to view. In a market where most property searches begin online, the main photo is almost always the exterior. If the frontage looks clean, tidy and well cared for, they’re more likely to click through and book a viewing. If it looks tired and neglected, many will simply scroll straight past, even if the property's interior is great."
“It can also definitely influence whether they offer and at what level. Buyers subconsciously link the outside condition to how the property has been maintained overall. Peeling paint, cracked paving, or overgrown hedges suggest potential neglect elsewhere. A smart, well-kept exterior creates confidence, and confident buyers tend to offer more decisively.”
According to Robin, the elements that most influence kerb appeal focus on cleanliness and maintenance:
4 things that can transform a property include:
- Freshly cleaned brickwork
- Washed windows
- A swept path
- A pressure-washed driveway
4 things that make a home feel established and loved include:
- A well-maintained front garden
- Trimmed hedges
- Defined borders
- A tidy lawn
3 things that contribute to a sense of calm and order include:
- Exterior lighting
- Visible house numbers
- Well-maintained fencing or railings
Robin noted: “Before going to market, I would always recommend sellers focus first on deep cleaning and minor repairs (plus, small repairs done before marketing often prevent larger price negotiations later). Maintenance issues have a big impact too... Missing roof tiles, damaged gutters, peeling render or cracked masonry can all signal major red flags. Buyers may not consciously itemise these things, but they register them emotionally. Garden maintenance is essential too - even in winter, a tidy, structured garden looks far better than one left to grow wild.”
5 examples of relatively low-cost but high-impact fixes that can make a difference include:
- Pressure washing paving and brickwork
- Repainting tired woodwork
- Fixing loose gutters
- Replacing broken fence panels
- Refreshing the front door (particularly important as it’s the focal point of the façade, and is therefore worth repainting if it looks tired)
When it comes to adding value to your property, Robin shared: “Cleaning and maintenance won’t usually add huge value, but they protect it and can easily make a two to three percent difference by improving buyer confidence and potential competition. This might not sound like a lot, but it can be significant, particularly for high-value homes.”
Resin bound paving is purposely designed to be long-lasting, durable, and low maintenance - especially when compared to gravel, asphalt and block paving driveway options. While resin driveways stay looking their very best for years to come, the occasional sweep and a power wash can keep them looking as good as the day they were first laid down.
To remove leaves, sand, soil and similar materials from resin-bound paving, it can be swept clean with a stiff brush. Hosing the resin surface down with clean water will also clean the paving. It is common that regular brushing and washing is the only maintenance required for resin bound surfacing.
Staining can occur from tannings from debris if they are not cleaned away and lay on the resin surface for prolonged periods of time. Most stubborn stains and grime elements can be removed with a pressure washer (maximum 150 bar rating). A fan-type lance should be used, and it should be sprayed at a minimum of 200mm above the resin bound surface. Only cold water should be used on resin surfacing.
If any chewing gum were to stick to your resin surface, it can be easily removed with freeze spray. Each piece of chewing gum should be hardened with the freeze spray and then gently scraped off with a suitable scraper.
Robin continued: “Larger exterior upgrades - such as new windows, landscaping or a quality driveway - would add more, sometimes as much as five per cent or so, but only if they’re in keeping with the property and the area.”
Beautiful and functional
A great driveway won’t just be beautiful, but it will also be functional. The surface needs to be safe to walk, play and drive on. It often has to fit between one and two cars, which will most likely drive on it every day, so it must be robust and resilient. It can sometimes take up a fair share of a property's land, so it is critical that it is both cosmetic and practical.
Resin Mill's network of elite resin driveway installers can help to bring your vision to life with precision, reliability, and a touch of innovation. Finding an installer through Resin Mill ensures you're connected with a league of proven professionals renowned for their expertise and dedication to excellence in resin installations. By choosing an installer through us, you gain access to a roster of specialists equipped with the latest techniques and premium materials, ensuring your project is in capable hands.
And if would like any information on resin bound driveways, let us know and we will be more than happy to assist.
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